Exercising machine



Aug. 25, 1931. A. E. R. BLOMQUIST 1,320,372

EXERCISING MACHINE Filed Feb. s, 1928 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 j munuunnnunnnuu Aug. 25, 1931.

A E. R. BLOMQUIST EXERCISING MACHINE 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8. 1928 IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ gnuemtoz Aug. 25, 1931. A. E. R. BLOMQUIST 1,820 37 EXERCISING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f 2 Q I g wmu 2 v all. muscles of th body... 7 1

Fatentd Aug. 25;.193i I GUST 13. R. BLOMQUISQOFCLEVELAND, ()Hlf) EXERCISING MACHIKNE Application medrebruar s, 1928; Ser'ial'No. 252,762.

The primary purpose of my present inventionistoprovide an exercising machine or apparat'us'that is especially convenient of use andjin its use, brings into play practically 1 Another object is'to provide in such a Inachine or apparatus anradjustahle mean-Sator resisting to a great-er or less degree the action I of the members at the'body incident tov the T operatic-n ot the machineso that the. machine may be adapted to the needs of individuals of varying strength, or to thergradually increasing strength-of-a given individual as his muscles become developed through the continuediuse of the apparatus;

' According to' the present preferred 'ernbodiinent otth'e' invention, it involves a crank actionfor the hands and a pedalaction for the feet that are: geared together; and. a

further. object is to make: suchxa-rnachine readily adjustable to theyheights'ot individuals of difierentsizes.

A still furtherobject is to providea rela; tively simple and very substantial and compact construction for a machine or the kind in question. v. V

v r The foregoing objects, with. others herein"- after appearing, are attained in the embodiment of thelinvention illustratedin the ac companying drawings wherein Fig. l represents a' side elevation xof a machine constructed in accordance. with my invention; Fig. '2 shows the-machine as'viewed fronithe right of Fig. 1 :-Figs. 3 and tare central vertical sections in a plane 'paral-lelto that of V Fig. 1, through' the. upper and lower portions of the machine, respectivelyg'Figs. Stand '6 are sectional elevations substantially on the respective]linesi-55: of Fig.1 3 and 6-6 of Fig. 4; F ig. 'Z is a section-n the lines 7'-7 of Figs. 1 and 4, the adjusting crank being omittedin the latter views; and- Fig. 8 is a sectional detail t the brake-mechanism on the line 8-801. Fig.

v The base of a1 machine inth'e forrnofa 7 from its lower end upwardlya .suitab'lef dis- .side of the columnsection dandhasdiar'netriheavy and substantial casting,- isdesignated v1, and the same is preferably supported from the fioonby pads 2 of suitable material, such as rubber. The, front 'side, of the base is 7 formed with a form 4.

Rising from the base is a'holl'ow telescopic column designated generally by the refer ence numeral 5 and'coinprising a lowersec t1on6 andanxupper section 7, the latter be: 111g verticallyadpistablewithin the former 7 section. As shown best in, F igs/t and. 7;,the

top'of-the section '6 is split onits r-earfside to provide separated ears 6 betweeirwhich' 1s fitteda key 8 thatengages within azkeyway 9 gn on the rear side of t'he'colurnn sectioni7,; to preventsald sect1on7 froinrotating with re spect to section 6. The key8 is-held in place,

and'the lugs'fi are adapted to be drawn toward each other, by means ot .a :bolt. 10 that this bolt and thusdrawing the lugs toward 7 each other, the splitupperend ofthe section l6. is contractedabout'the section '2 to clamp'the latter section securely raga-inst. verticald is placement. y Y a f Teeth-are cut in the front side 'of-the section 1 tance to f-orrna rack 12 with which a pinion 13 meshes that iscontained within. a trans- 1 I verse bore: 14 vin the front, transverselygeniar'gedportion of the upper end of column 8!). i are enlarged atitheir. ends to effect a working section 6. Thepinion has hubextensions that fit. within the bore-14 andoneof said enlarge lnents has a groove 15 for the reception of the reduced innerend of a screw 16 which serves a hold the pinion against longitudinal movement. .The pinion has a central bore 'ex-i tending throughout its length and the enlargement of the'pinion opposite that having the groove-15 projects beyond the adjacent ledgeii that supports aplat 15o:

cally opposed notches within which are adapted to be engaged the ends of a pin 17 that is extended transversely through the shank of a crank 18 that is designed to be received by the bore of the pinion when it is desired to turn the same for the purpose of adjusting the column section 7 with respect to the section 6.

A housing 20 surmounts the column 5 and spaced from each other by their engagement with shoulders on the hub of the pinion, and are maintained against longitudinal separation by the lower one, designated 23, resting upon a member that is fitted within a counter-bored portion of the lower end of the housing 20 and by a cap 26 that closes an opening in the upper end of the housing through which the before-mentioned parts are inserted. The pinion 24 is shown as keyed to the upper end of a shaft 28, and is held against withdrawal from the shaft by means of a set screw 29. The shaft 28 extends downwardly through the column 5 and into the base 1, and where it passes through the bore of the member 25 it is engaged by packing rings 30 that prevent lubricant that is introduced into the housing 20 for the lubrication of the gearing contained therein from flowing down the shaft 28.

The top portion of the base 1 is formed to provide a casing 32 downwardly through which the lower end of the shaft 28 projects and supported within this casing in vertically spaced relation to each other are anti-friction bearings 33 and 34 that sustain the elongated hub of a pinion 35 that is slidably but non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 28. A connection of this nature between the shaft and pinion is effected by an elongated key 36 that is carried by the shaft and that operates within a key-way in the hub of the pinion. The bearing 33 is fitted within the lower reduced end of the column section 6, where the latter is fitted within an aperture in the top of the base 1, while the bearing 34 is supported by a member 37 that fits within an opening of a transverse wall 38 that defines the bottom of the casing 32. The member is secured in place by bolts (one of which is shown at 37) that are extended upwardly through a flange of the member37, through the wall 38, and are screwed into the lower end of the column section 6, and (where the gearing interferes with the use of through bolts) by a cap screw 37*. A similar screw, designated 37 and located directly over the screw 37", secures the parts of the base and column together at this point. There are preferably two bolts 37 and they and the screw 37 b may be spaced equal distances apart v about the member 37". The shaft 28 is adapted to move vertically through the pinion 35 as the column sections 6 and 7 are adjusted with respect to each other, and fitted into the bore of the member 37 through which the shaft 28 projects is the upper end of a relatively deep cylindrical cup 40. This cup prevents lubricant, that is introduced into the casing 32 for the lubrication of the gearing contained therein, from dripping upon the floor.

Fitted into openings in the opposed side walls of the front portion of the casing 32 are caps 41 (Fig. 6) that are shown as held to said walls by screws 42. These caps have openings through which a shaft 43 extends, and said openings are counter-bored from their inner end to receive anti-friction bearings 44 for said shaft. Surrounding the reduced port-ions of said openings are packing rings 45 to prevent the egress of lubricant from the casing 32. Pinned or otherwise secured to the central portion of the shaft 43 is a pinion 46 that meshes with the pre viously mentioned pinion 35. These pinions are of the angle gear type. Suitably secured to the projecting ends of the shaft 43 are pedals 48.

A similar assembly to that just described is contained within the ei'ilarged front portion of the housing 20 (Fig. 5). Supported, through suitable anti-friction bearings 50, by caps 51 that are fitted within apertures in the opposed side walls of the housing 20 are the reduced ends of a shaft 52. An angle pinion 53 is secured to the shaft 52 at about its longitudinal center, and the same meshes with the previously mentioned pinion 24. Secured to the shaft 52, as by means of a key 54, adjacent one side of the pinion 53 is a drum 55 whose grooved periphery is encircled by a brake band 56, one end of which is fastened at a point designated 57 (Fig. 8) to the housing 20 and to the other end of which is secured a screw 58 that operates within the threaded bore of a hand wheel 60 having a shank extension that is journalecl within the wall of the housing. By turning tl e hand wheel, the screw 58 may be fed inwardly or outwardly to effect a tightening or loosening of the brake band 56 thereby to permit rotation of the shaft 52 with greater or less ease. Cranks 61 are suitably secured to the opposite ends of the shaft 52.

In the useof the machine it is first adjusted to suit the height of the user if such an adjustment is found necessary. This is accomplished by relaxing the screw 10 by means of the operating handle 11 and then inserting the shank of the crank 18 into the bore of the pinion 13 until the ends of the end of the pinion hub. V The crank may then be turned to rotate thepinion 13 and, throu h its cooperation with the rack 12, adjust the column section 7 vertically with respect to the sec-tin6. When the desired adjustment has been effected, the screw 10 is again tightened and the crank 18 removed so as not to interfere in any way with the movements of the user. The user then' steps onto the platform 4 and, A onto the pedals 48 and rotates the cranks and pedals. Thisnot only results in exercise to the arms and legs, but inasmuch as the pedals and cranks are synchronized in their action through the gearing above of twisting and turning or weaving of the entire body results which brings into play practically all muscles of the body; and by adjusting thebrake comprised of the drum and the band 56 through the manipulation of the hand wheel 60, the machine may be caused to resist to any extent the desired arm and legaction of the user.

If it is desired to exercise only the arms,

' the user may stand onthe platform 4 and grasp the grip "portions of a handle bar that is supported by and is spaced rearwardly onto the pedals 48 andoperate them. The 'handle bar 65 is sufficiently short to avoid manipulate the cranks 61; and in case it is only the leg exercise that is wanted, he'inay from the-head 20 and step from the platform interference between the operators arms and the idling cranks 61. V

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-- I 1. In a machine of theclass set forth, the combination of a relatively heavy base incorporating a casing and a platform, ahollow column rising from the base, a housing, surmounting said column, a shaft within the column and having is ends disposeolwithin the housing and easing, a crank action can ried by the housing, a pedal action carried by the casing, and driving connections between each of said actions and the shaft.

2. In a machine of the class set forth, the

combination of a base, a hollow column ris- 111 therefrom and comprising telescoping.

sections whereby the height of the column may be adjusted, means for adjusting said sections with respect ing surmounting the column, a crank action carried by the housing, a pedal action carried by the base, a shaftwithin the column and extending into the housing and base, and driving connections said crank and pedal actions.

3. In a machine of the class set forth,

the

combination of'a base, a hollow column rising therefrom and comprising telescoping sections whereby maybe ad' sections with respect to each other and for said shaft and said: crank grasping the-cranks 61', he steps described, a sort section, the second section to each other, a hoiisf between said shaft and I I column, a pedal action carried by the base,

the hcight, of the column justed, means for adjusting said.

i nn, a crank action carriedby the housing, a

pedal action carried by the base, a shaft ,with- V in the column and extendinginto the housing base, and driving connections between In, a inachineof the class set forth-,the

and pedal ac ions.

combination of a base, a hollow telescopic column; rising tlIQIGfFOI1 1 ajii housing surmounting the column, a crank action carried housing, a pedal action carried by the base, a shaft within the column having its opposite endsdisposed in thehousing and in by the the base, and gearing effecting drivingconnections between said shaft and each of the aforesaid actions, one end. of the shaft being vertically adjustable with respect to the said s p v f i 5. In an exercising machine, the combination with a base, of a hollow column section rising from the base, a second hollow;

column.section'telescoping within the former I pinion rotatably supported by the first men tioned section for cooperation with said rack ITIQHIISTO! rotating said pinion, a housing surmounting the second columnsection, and a crankaction carried by said housing, a

pedal action carried by the base, and driving connections enclosed wtihin the column sections and yield to the relative adjustment between said sections. .7 r

6. In an exercising machine, the combination with a base, of ahollow column section rising from the base, a second hollow column.

section'telescoping within the former section, the second section having a rack, a pinion rotatably supported by the first 'mentioned section for cooperation with said rack,

means for rotating said pinion, means for contractingthe firstinentioned section about the second section thereby to clamp the sections together against relative movement, a housing surmounting the second column section, and a crank action carried by said hous ing, a pedal action carried by the base, and

driving connections between said sections that are enclosed within the column sections having a rack, a a

between said sections that are and yield to the relative adjustment between said sections.

and drivingconnections between said crank and pedal actions.

8. In a portable "exercising machine, the

7. In a portable exercising machine, thecombination of a'relatively heavy base hav- 8 ing av platform, a longitudinally extensible and contractiblecolumn rising from the base and inclined tothe vertical axis of the base in. a. direction away from said platform, a crank action carried by the upper end of the column, a pedal action carried by the base, and extensible and contractible driving connections between said crank and pedal actions.

In testimony whereof, l hereunto aflix my signature.

AUGUST 'E. R. BLOMQUIST. 

